Ashes

Dark and smudgy our hands stared back

Bringing forth the memories of terror

When orange flames lapped up the building

Licking away the wood

Burning down everything it touched

As the screams of horror echoed in the confined space.

This way and that, they ran in circles

Hugging the kids to shield them from fire

As the place turned into the hot furnace

Choking the young and old

Squeezing life from their lungs

Leaving behind nothing but the ashes of the dead.